The '13 driver transfer discussion/speculation thread op updated 16/10

[Nismo34]

Yeah, until the end of the season . The kimi/alonso combination and its potential for creating massive lulz is too good to happen in F1. I really think he's moving somewhere.

In a way, it might be what Ferrari need. Nothing better than trying to prove whose the better driver than in the same car. One driver performs better in one race, the other performs better in the next and so on. A game of leap frog. While the 2 are continually getting better, the other teams are busy focusing on one driver to head the other. Kimi and Fernando trying to swing better than each other may put the team up there next season... on the other hand, it may end in tears... We'll see.

 

[zippy_the_cat]

In a way, it might be what Ferrari need.

It's definitely what Ferrari need. With the upswing in form by Mercedes there's no guarantee at all with an Alonso/Massa pairing that Ferrari would finish even at No. 2 in the WCC should Red Bull hold form in 2014. And if McLaren regains form (a big if), there's risk of slipping to No. 4. So Ferrari had to make a move. Granted they have more resources than most, but there's a big enough difference in financial return in the WCC that even they have to be mindful of it. And stockholder accountability being what it is, I don't take it as a given that Fiat can allow LdM to simply dip into the company budget to fund extras/overruns at the F1 team.

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

Not really to do with driver transfers. But it didn't really need it's own thread.
New Concorde Agreement has been signed. Expires in 2020.

http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/1...w-concorde-agreement-with-the-formula-1-group

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

More silly season transfer reports.

http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/1...prise-2014-sauber-move-for-rubens-barrichello

 

[Pupik]

Odd to think that Sauber and Barrichello both debuted in F1 at the exact same time. You'd figure there's got to be some young talent out there...

 

[Samus]

As much as I love Rubens, the only driver I have ever really 'followed' in F1, his time in F1 has passed. I can't see that deal making any sense.

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

McLaren are still after Alonso.

http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/1...f-signing-fernando-alonso-for-the-2014-season

 

[05XR8]

As much as I love Rubens, the only driver I have ever really 'followed' in F1, his time in F1 has passed. I can't see that deal making any sense.

I agree 100 percent. I was always for Rubens. I only used his car when I played the original F1 for PS1. I hope he's at the AGP in civilian clothes.

 

[BHRxRacer]

McLaren are still after Alonso.

http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/1...f-signing-fernando-alonso-for-the-2014-season

I've been afraid we might see that. Ideally I'd send Perez back to Sauber for Hulkenberg and keep Ferrari with what they got. If Alonso goes back to Mclaren Jenson's going to be destroyed unfortunately and seeing two great drivers in the same car will have to wait.

 

[Wardez]

I can't imagine him going back to McLaren at all. And they said they ruled out Hulk because he's too tall and weighs 6kg's more than Checo and Nico's already super lean, losing more weight would be detrimental.

 

[Carbonox]

I'm sure it has been discussed before in this thread, but Sauber hiring Sirotkin is the biggest joke I've ever heard in motorsports. (Well, right after Princess Sparkle Pony's undeserved Sprint Cup ride) I'll be happy to watch Sauber crumble this next season.

 

[Wardez]

People were saying the same thing about Raikkonen when he first was announced for Sauber. Not saying Sergey's gonna be another Kimi, but that's it's perfectly possible the guy'll be decent. At best possibly just as good as Alguersuari was, but if better, then that's a bonus. What Sergey's got going for him is that no one expects him to do well.

 

[Carbonox]

Last time I checked, a 9th place (with 1 round to go) in the Formula Renault 3.5 series shouldn't be even a decent qualification for an instant jump to F1.

 

[JaimePL]

Money is only reason for Sauber to sign young Sirotkin. For me he's too young to be Formula One driver, and he isn't enough to be in Sauber. He didn't show anything in FR3.5 too.

 

[Furinkazen]

Marussia's and Caterham's have a new target for next season then.

 

[DK]

He could be Ivan-Denis Delatrazov.

Surely if I was Sauber and I needed Russian money, I'd go for Vitaly Petrov.

 

[BHRxRacer]

Did Mclaren explicitly say the only reason they're not taking Hulkenberg is his weight?


RE Sirotkin:
I'm only wondering how the hell he's going to get the super license. Does money literally buy everything these days?

 

[Seismica]

Did Mclaren explicitly say the only reason they're not taking Hulkenberg is his weight?

The way I see it is Mclaren are trying to draw attention to the issue in the media. I can see a number of possible motives:

1) Mclaren's 2014 car is forecast to be close to or over the weight limit (Due to the new engines being heavier than anticipated), so increasing the limit will mean they are still able to be competitive and possibly have some wiggle room for ballast/weight distribution setup options.

2) Jenson Button as a taller driver, will be hurt if the car is close to the weight limit.

3) An increase in the weight limit would make Nico Hulkenberg a more viable candidate for a race seat next season.

4) All of the above.

I'm fairly sure point 1 and 2 are true, i'm not so sure about the possibility of signing Hulkenberg though. As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago in this thread, I believe that Mclaren will stick with Perez, but they haven't extended his contract yet as many of us had expected them to. Mclaren have gone out of their way to make this issue public at a time when Hulkenberg's future is in the spotlight amid good race form. Even if they did sign Hulkenberg, having two drivers that take the car over the weight limit is just bad driver management as it will cost the team performance. It just so happens that both Jenson and Hulkenberg weigh ~74Kg and are likely to put the car over the weight limit. It could just be a huge coincidence, but there is evidence to suggest that Mclaren could be after Hulkenberg, and that they are simply trying to reduce the disadvantage that comes with two tall/heavy drivers.

 

[dsgerbc]

I'd go for Vitaly Petrov.

He doesn't have an oligarch for a father though.

 

[otakukid96]

I've got mixed feelings about Sirotkin. I would love to see a Russian back on the grid, but not if they're only 6 months older than me.

 

[Wardez]

He does have a 20 million dollar sponsorship deal now though, not that it matters to Sauber anymore at this point. It would be cool if Petrov landed a Marrusia drive though.

 

[Imari]

I have tremendous objections to the thought that people like Button and Hulkenburg, who are amazing athletes, might not be able to compete simply because they're too tall. As if F1 wasn't elitist enough already.

 

[Wardez]

Yeah, it's a shame, FIA really needs to look into it.

 

[SilverArrow]

The FIA don't try to prevent anything, they wait for it all to go wrong before they react...

 

[albteman015]

The FIA don't try to prevent anything, they wait for it all to go wrong before they react...

Better words have never been spoken. 👍

 

[Seismica]

I have tremendous objections to the thought that people like Button and Hulkenburg, who are amazing athletes, might not be able to compete simply because they're too tall. As if F1 wasn't elitist enough already.

Really, the drivers shouldn't count towards the weight limit at all. Only the car should be restricted. As it stands, being tall is a penalty even if they fall under the weight limit, as it reduces the setup flexibility that comes from changing the weight distribution with ballast. I don't understand why nothing has been done about this before now.

 

[dsgerbc]

Really, the drivers shouldn't count towards the weight limit at all.

How's this gonna help, exactly? If the limit is on the car itself, than the taller (meaning heavier) drivers will be at an even bigger disadvantage. There needs to be a total minimum weight and a pre-set ballast location along the body of the driver.
Or maybe put it in the driver's firesuit, lol

 

[Imari]

What there really needs to be is a minimum car weight without driver, and a separate minimum driver weight.

Car too light? Add ballast.
Driver too light? Fill his pockets with spanners. Or if we're being sensible, add ballast in a defined location, like under his seat. Light drivers get a small advantage of having more of their weight low down, but at least skill could reasonably trump size in that situation.

Which I think is more or less what dsgerbc said, but I couldn't resist sticking my two cents in.

 

[tribolik]

tall athletes have an advantage in most sports, I dont understand why can short athletes have an advantage in motosports as it also happens in horse racing.

 

[niky]

As in horse racing, the Formula One driver is not pushing himself around the track on his own two legs, so the length of those legs and the size of the muscles they're attached to are of little importance. Physical size is a hindrance if your speed down the straight depends on the size of your breakfast.

Coincidentally, being too tall is a handicap in special forces work, too. Easier to hit.

-

If you could find hyperkinetic preteens with lightning-quick reflexes physically strong enough to race a Formula One car, there's no doubt teams would be auditioning them. Racing-camel owners and African warlords already do, to good effect.

(Not that I'm suggesting that this is in any way desirable or possibly even legal.)